Teenager dies after falling from bus emergency exit

[harry42]

BBC NEWS:

A teenager has died after he fell from the emergency exit of a bus heading into Glasgow city centre in the early hours of the morning.

Police Scotland said the 19-year-old sustained serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene on Gorbals Street.

It is believed he was trying to climb off the bus when he fell from the exit.

Officers said inquiries were ongoing and a post-mortem examination would take place.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "At around 12.25am on Sunday morning he got onto a bus at Stockwell Street.

"As it approached the bridge he tried to get off the bus but couldn't due to traffic on the road.

"He then went to the back of the bus and approached the emergency exit on the lower level.

"He fell from the exit and sustained serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene."

I think sometimes bus drivers need to use discression but the teenager should've used more sense than to try and get out. You do wonder what his reasons were.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

STV GLASGOW:


A 19-year-old man has died after falling off a bus on a city centre street while on a night out just days after his girlfriend’s birthday.

Josh Lincoln, from Castlemilk in the south side of Glasgow, was on a bus heading into Glasgow city centre when the accident happened.

A police spokeswoman said the teenager got on the bus on Gorbals Street before trying to climb out the emergency exit at the back of the bus in an effort to get off.

He suffered serious head injuries as a result of the fall and died at the scene on Stockwell Street.

A police Scotland spokeswoman said: "A 19-year-old man has died after falling from a bus in Gorbals Street, Glasgow.

"At around 12.25am on Sunday morning he got onto a bus at Stockwell Street. As it approached the bridge he tried to get off the bus but couldn’t due to traffic on the road.

"He then went to the back of the bus and approached the emergency exit on the lower level. He fell from the exit and sustained serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries are on-going and a post-mortem will take place."

Mr Lincoln’s girlfriend, Kerry Ferguson, paid tribute to the young man in a message posted on her Facebook page.

She wrote: "Woke up thinking and hoping it was just all one big nasty dream, sadly I've woke up and the pains still here, my Josh is actually dead.

"True what they say when god really does take the best eh. For such a little period of time you made me feel the happiest I've felt in such a long time, five weeks I'll never ever forget!

"You not only treated me like a princess but actually made me feel like one too. Had such a wee heart of gold, always putting other people’s happiness before your own!

"Would do anything in this earth just to see your wee face and gorgeous smile again and have the bestest cuddle ever from you.

"Missing you like mad and it's not even been 12 hours yet! I'm going to make you so proud looking down on me, there won't be a day that goes by where I won't think about you.

"My body's numb with shock. I just want you back, thoughts are with his friends & family. You'll be sadly missed, have a ball up there babe, I'll see you soon."

A spokesman for First Glasgow said: "We can confirm an incident took place involving one of our Service 5 buses at Victoria Bridge at around 12:25 this morning.

"Unfortunately, an individual exited one of our buses, whilst it was still moving, via the emergency exit.

"We continue to assist the police with their enquiries, but at this stage our thoughts are very much with the victim’s family and friends."

 

[bb21]

Sounds like a very strange accident.

 

[455driver]

Sounds like a very strange accident.

Not really, it sounds as if he wanted to get of the bus where it wasnt booked to stop, but because the driver wouldnt let him off he went and used the emergency exit while the bus was moving. The rest is self evident.

 

[BestWestern]

Just to make the point, bus drivers are under strict instructions not to allow passengers to leave the vehicle other than at bus stops, and can be disciplined for doing otherwise. Had the bus driver allowed this chap off between stops and his same lack of judgement led to him being taken out by another vehicle, the driver would have been in very serious trouble.

 

[anthony263]

Just to make the point, bus drivers are under strict instructions not to allow passengers to leave the vehicle other than at bus stops, and can be disciplined for doing otherwise. Had the bus driver allowed this chap off between stops and his same lack of judgement led to him being taken out by another vehicle, the driver would have been in very serious trouble.

This is something a lot of passengers dont seem to understand no matter how many times we try to explain it to people.

Thoughts are with the driver who was involved and also the family of the lad who died.

I do hope we dont see the family and freinds trying to blame the bus driver however I do think this may happen

 

[bb21]

How bad can it get with ignorant and selfish passengers? Spare a thought for this poor driver.

Notice the woman standing next to the driver from about 0:36 onwards, and what she did from about 1:10 onwards after she realised that she had missed her stop and the driver would not open the doors until the next stop which was a mere 300 yards away.

More amazingly from 1:40 onwards it shows that she did not seem to have learned the lesson after she got up from the fall due to the driver losing control of the vehicle.

She is thankfully now in custody and I so hope we have no such idiots in this country. (Well, I can dream.)

Whatever happened with the teenager, death is always too high a price to pay. Hopefully others thinking of doing something similar will think twice.

 

[scotsman]

I believe Glaswegian bus drivers know them as 'lemmings'. Tragically appropriate.

 

[34D]

Just to make the point, bus drivers are under strict instructions not to allow passengers to leave the vehicle other than at bus stops, and can be disciplined for doing otherwise. Had the bus driver allowed this chap off between stops and his same lack of judgement led to him being taken out by another vehicle, the driver would have been in very serious trouble.

At First Glasgow maybe. When I drive a bus, I'm always happy to respond to sensible requests like this, where I believe the person will be safe enough.

Let's put it another way: the jobsworth culture has basically caused this tragic accident.

 

[afyutr]

Sounds from the reports that it wasn't a safe place to let someone off though.

I agree though - I have been sat in a traffic jam 30 yards from a bus stop and had to wait 5 mins for it to crawl to the stop. Common sense needs applying. Problem is some people (not the bus drivers often) don't have it so the rest of us have to live by annoying rules so we can protect them.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

From what I've noticed of First Glasgow drivers is that they don't open the doors if there is a build up of buses within the city centre mostly due to the fact if there are traffic wardens, SPT or First Inspectors they'll probably get booked for it.

At other places outwith the city centre and there is a couple of buses at the stop, the driver opens the doors and lets people on and off...

 

[455driver]

At First Glasgow maybe. When I drive a bus, I'm always happy to respond to sensible requests like this, where I believe the person will be safe enough.

Let's put it another way: the jobsworth culture has basically caused this tragic accident.

So you would be quite happy to drop somebody off away from a bus stop knowing that if you are seen or reported you will be up in front of the boss at best or up in front of the traffic commissioners at worst!

And anyone that doesnt do that is a jobsworth! :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Common sense needs applying.

The Law doesnt work in common sense though, it works in black or white and if there are rules/laws that say you cant do something, all the bleating in the world wont change that.

So if the driver is aware of the rules but chooses to drop somebody off away from a bus stop and that person is injured or killed, who do you think will get the blame and who do you think will be in court?
Before you think that is scaremongering one of my former colleagues was caught out like this back in the 90s, the company couldnt wash their hands quick enough and the phrase 'hung out to dry' is very appropriate!

 

[GaryMcEwan]

So you would be quite happy to drop somebody off away from a bus stop knowing that if you are seen or reported you will be up in front of the boss at best or up in front of the traffic commissioners at worst!

And anyone that doesnt do that is a jobsworth! :roll:

What if it's a Hail and Ride service? I know in places outside of Glasgow where if there is no bus stop near or available, drivers will let passengers off where they ask them to stop...

 

[TEW]

In Cornwall it is normal for the driver to let you on/off where it is safe to do so. The walk to my nearest bus stop is half a mile down a main road with the national speed limit and no pavement. Alternatively I can catch the bus at the top of my driveway where the bus is well-sighted by any traffic and there is room to pull in off the road.

 

[anthony263]

What if it's a Hail and Ride service? I know in places outside of Glasgow where if there is no bus stop near or available, drivers will let passengers off where they ask them to stop...

Hail & ride services will pick up and drop off wherre it is a suitable place to do so.

I will drop people off in a safe alternative place if it is safe to do so say if the bus stop is blocked by parked vehicles which they usually are

 

[455driver]

What if it's a Hail and Ride service? I know in places outside of Glasgow where if there is no bus stop near or available, drivers will let passengers off where they ask them to stop...

That is obviously different! :roll:

The bus still has to stop in a safe place so not outside number 24 when it is on a road jn etc so not always where the passenger wants and boy do they moan about having to walk 10 yards!

I was a bus driver when widespread Hail and Ride was implemented (with minibuses) and it was nothing but a pain in the Arse with people expecting the bus to stop at every gate (yes literally) with the result the bus just got later and later, the company tried to get the passengers to see reason (that didnt work) so they ended up putting bus stops up on all the former H&R routes, that peed the passengers off no end and the number that still expected to be picked up or dropped off outside their house was quite amazing, still it was a nice day for a walk!

 

[Robertj21a]

At First Glasgow maybe. When I drive a bus, I'm always happy to respond to sensible requests like this, where I believe the person will be safe enough.

Let's put it another way: the jobsworth culture has basically caused this tragic accident.

Certainly can't agree with that comment. Anybody who has been on the buses around Glasgow will recognise that some of the passengers are a danger to themselves for a large part of every 24 hour day. This one sounds like a probable contender. Totally out of order to blame the driver.

Robert

 

[Titfield]

Well with all due respect the issue is that if a person is allowed to alight at an unofficial stop and have some form of accident then the "No Win No Fee" lawyers are highly likely to win if the case came to court.

In London we have been told by TfL that we must use the bus stop full stop. If it is blocked (by another bus) we are to wait until the stop clears. We must not drop off short of the stop or immediately after the stop.

 

[BestWestern]

The ex London Darts I used to drive would often have a notice still displayed over the doors stating 'Bus drivers have been instructed not to open the doors other than at bus stops'. Pretty clear.

 

[455driver]

The ex London Darts I used to drive would often have a notice still displayed over the doors stating 'Bus drivers have been instructed not to open the doors other than at bus stops'. Pretty clear.

Bloomin jobsworths!

I mean its not like they are real rules is it, where is the customer service!

 

[bb21]

Does't it have insurance implications? I was under the impression that if a passenger is dropped off somewhere other than a recognised bus stop and has an accident, the insurers would not pay out so the company/driver would have to pick up the tabs.

 

[455driver]

Yep thats true as well BB21.

 

[34D]

Does't it have insurance implications? I was under the impression that if a passenger is dropped off somewhere other than a recognised bus stop and has an accident, the insurers would not pay out so the company/driver would have to pick up the tabs.

I don't believe this to be true.

 

[jopsuk]

It would seem from the description that he fell out in the junction (thus the changing refernces to Gorbals Street/Stockwell Street)?

There's stop just before the bridge. If he was trying to get off on the bridge, this would seem to me to be the sort of place that even a "common sense" bus driver would likely refuse, knowing there was a stop not that far after the bridge. This isn't some country road in the middle of nowhere.

As an odd aside, the junction is where the Clutha is, the pub that had the helicopter crash into it.

 

[Liam]

At First Glasgow maybe. When I drive a bus, I'm always happy to respond to sensible requests like this, where I believe the person will be safe enough.

Let's put it another way: the jobsworth culture has basically caused this tragic accident.

No. Theres generally a note on timetables or CoC's that the bus will stop where it is reasonable and safe to do so, outwith built up areas.

First Glasgow, for example:

4. CONDUCT OF PASSENGERS

...........

4.2 Passengers may only board or alight from the vehicle at designated stops
on the specific route on which travel is taking place (or at places
considered safe by the driver where ‘a hail and ride’ scheme operates).
The Company accepts no responsibility for passengers attempting to
board or alight at any other place or when the vehicle is moving or for a
passenger failing to alight at his destination.

I'm pretty sure Stockwell Street does not fall in 'a hail and ride' scheme.

Stagecoach have something similar:

4) Getting on and off the bus

........

In certain areas there are no designated bus stops and, in those areas, buses will stop on request where it is safe to do so. You should always pick a point away from parked cars, road junctions, etc and give a clear signal in good time to the driver of the approaching vehicle.

 

[hassaanhc]

In London we have been told by TfL that we must use the bus stop full stop. If it is blocked (by another bus) we are to wait until the stop clears. We must not drop off short of the stop or immediately after the stop.

Funny you mention this, in recent years I've seen very strict enforcement of this rule. My nearest town centre is often full of traffic and these days it is rare for a driver to open the doors when stuck in a queue of traffic. If there is more than one bus at a stop and there is space to pull in behind then they do usually and open the doors, and often there are passengers who don't walk to where the bus is and then hail again once both buses start to move off, where drivers do stop. And I've seen less instances of stopping right in the middle of the road instead of pulling onto the side. I have even seen drivers miss bus stops because an ambulance is parked on them. That even happened to me once, although I'm certain it wasn't the case and the driver didn't want to stop at a lightly used stop (happened a total of 4 times in a year :roll